BERLIN (Reuters) - Martin Scorsese brings the magic of
the Rolling Stones to the big screen with "Shine a
Light," a two-hour film of the veteran British rockers
strutting their stuff at a packed New York venue.
ADVERTISEMENT
The documentary, filmed with 17 cameras at two
concerts at the intimate Beacon Theater in 2006, opens
the annual Berlin Film Festival on Thursday, a fitting
beginning to an 11-day cinematic marathon that is rich
in rock'n'roll.
Madonna is expected in Berlin for her directorial
debut, while movies about singer Patti Smith, British
indie band Gorillaz and a heavy metal group from
Baghdad also feature.
Journalists at a preview screening ahead of the
evening red carpet premiere watched the four
60-something band members shot from almost every
conceivable angle for the film named after a song on
their 1972 album "Exile on Main St."
Jagger, now 64, defies his years, gyrating and pouting
his way through a string of hits including "Jumpin'
Jack Flash," "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up," while
guitarist Keith Richards grins mischievously
throughout.
Scorsese has used Rolling Stones music from the start
of his career, prompting Jagger to joke that "Shine a
Light" was the only film of his not to feature the
song "Gimme Shelter."
"For me the music was certainly part of my life
throughout the 60s," Scorsese told reporters at a
press conference.
"For me the sound of the movie, the chords, the
vocals, the entire feel of the music inspired me
greatly," added the director, flanked by the four band
members.
"It became the basis for most of the work I've done in
my movies going from 'Mean Streets' on to 'Raging
Bull' all the way over to 'Casino' and 'The
Departed'."
ARCHIVE, NEW ANGLES
Scorsese adds short clips of black-and-white archive
footage between songs showing a young Jagger or
Richards fielding often inane and repetitive questions
from reporters around the world.
Just two years after the band formed, Jagger was asked
how long the band could keep going.
"I don't know," he replied. "I think we're pretty well
set up for at least another year."
In another interview he is asked: "Can you picture
yourself at the age of 60 doing what you're doing
now?"
Jagger replies: "Yeh, easily. Yeh."
Before the concert starts, Scorsese is shown
desperately trying to find out the track list ahead of
the concert.
Richards and Ronnie Wood are filmed playing pool
before a gig and Jagger pours over lists of songs
categorized as "well known," "medium known" and
"unknown."
The band, looking slightly perplexed, is introduced to
former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his friends
before a show. After they leave, Richards jokes: "Hey
Clinty, We're Bushed!"
Scorsese's cameras are located in the crowd and behind
the stage, giving a 360 degree view of the performance
from both the fans' and the band's point of view.
"We were able to go out there and just do a Stones
show," Richards told reporters. "There are many
cameras but we didn't even see them, we didn't even
know they were there. That was very important."
Jagger performs on stage with Jack White of The White
Stripes, Christina Aguilera and a mesmerizing Buddy
Guy.
Least comfortable of all before the camera is drummer
Charlie Watts, the oldest member of the band at 66.
"I hate it, but it's very beautifully filmed," he
said, when asked how he found the experience of making
the movie. "I hate doing it, like sitting up here for
example."
____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
BritInvasion archived at <http://www.escribe.com/music/britinvasion>,
<http://www.mail-archive.com/britinvasion%40onelist.com>, and
<http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=britinvasion>. Home page:
<http://home.hiwaay.net/~emilyj/britinvasion/>.
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
